10 Wedding Attires from Around the World

Dreaming of walking down the aisle in that stunning white gown and a veil whose train stretches for miles? Or perhaps that jaw-dropping red lehenga is calling out to you and you cannot wait to look like a queen in your mother’s bridal jewellery. While these two seem to be the most obvious wedding attires that come to mind, have you ever wondered what different communities residing in extreme parts of the world wear for their wedding day?

Every wedding outfit encompasses generations worth of beliefs and traditions. But as fewer and fewer people opt for traditional weddings today, it’s become a rather weird notion, how following these traditions actually makes you unique. Take a look at 10 mesmerising wedding attires from around the world:

1. Japanese

Image Source: Lan Phan

A Japanese bride typically wear the shiromuku. The shiromuku consists of a white furisode kimono that has a trailing hem called a kakeshita. Over this, a fukuro obi (broad sash) is worn around the waist and  secured by a scarf-like item and a rope. Next a second robe-like kimono known as an uchikake is put over all this. Much like the suits or tuxedos worn by western grooms, the formal kimonos worn by Japanese grooms also lack colour. They are often black or grey with white family crests. Fun fact, the bride’s hood is called tsunokakushi which means horn-hiding and is meant to hide the horns of jealousy which the bride feels towards her mother-in-law.

2. Balinese

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The typical material of Balinese wedding costume is Songket layered with golden threads. What’s more, the colour of the bride and groom’s wedding ensemble is chosen according to the caste of the family. The color of the material is normally bright colors like blue, yellow, orange or red. The more wealthy the family, the more luxurious-looking is the Songket. Other than the dress, the groom wears some kind of head cover that tied around the forehead while the bride wears a crown with golden decorations. Higher the crown, higher the caste of the family.

3. Nigerian

Image Source: Laphy Photography

Nigerian brides and grooms often wear brightly-colored and complementing wedding clothes. Material made of lace is also popular for many Nigerian brides across tribes, as are other textiles like silk and tulle, embellished with hand-stitched beads, stones and pearls tailored painstakingly to a bride’s taste. They also often wear a Nigerian head tie called a Gele. The bride’s ensemble is matched to her husband’s tunic and pants set, along with his agbada draping and fila hat.

4. Scottish

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Unlike most weddings where the men are seen wearing tuxedos, Scottish grooms traditionally wear kilts (kind of a skirt). Men in Scotland traditionally wear the kilt of his clan for his wedding. Once the wedding ceremony is over, the bride is draped with a shawl matching her husband’s kilt. This signifies her transition into the new family and clan. The use of highland dress and kilt, jacket, dirk and sporran in Scottish weddings has continued over the centuries, whilst the bride’s white gown and veil has its roots in more modern times.

5. Hungarian

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Hungarian wedding gowns are vibrant and colorful, resplendent with intricate embroidery. The bride also wears a matching headpiece made with wheat which symbolises fertility and prosperity. On the other hand, the groom is seen wearing a white shirt with an embroidered vest and a bowler hat to accessorize the look. 

6. Chinese

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In China, red symbolises good luck and is believed to ward off evil spirits. That’s why you will you see most brides and grooms don the colour on their wedding day. In North China, the bride’s wedding dress is generally a long, form-fitting, one-piece gown called a qipao or cheongsam. On the other hand in South China, the wedding dress (hung kwa) is often two pieces: a long, decorative jacket over a long, embroidered skirt.

7. Indian

Image Source: Parikshit Suri

Every region in India has a different take on the wedding attire but mostly the bride wears a red lehenga on her wedding day. The Solah Shringar or 16 items are crucial for a bride to don on this day. On the other hand, the groom wears a cream and gold sherwani and accessorize the look with a matching shawl around his neck and a sehra on his head. 

8. Persian

Image Source: Lisa Boggs Photography

The Persian bride and groom’s attire is quite formal, much like the Western wedding wear although the customs and traditions are very different. The groom will be seen wearing a tuxedo or a crisp suit while the bride will opt for a stunning white gown with a veil. The bride will be gifted with family heirlooms for her to wear for her wedding but the final decision lies with the groom. 

9. Sri Lankan

Image Source: Muragala

Known as the Nilame costume, the Sri Lankan groom’s outfit is made up of four parts – the hat, the jacket, the mul anduma (a long white cloth with a frill wrapped around the waist and tied just over the belly), and the shoes. The jacket is decorated with lace work and sequins and comes in varieties of burgundy, red, blue, silver, and gold. For the Sri Lankan bride, the traditional attire is called Osariya (sari). This sari is worked profusely in gold or silver thread, with pearls, stones, beads, and sequins adding that extra glimmer.

10. Russian

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In a Russian wedding, red and white colours are of great importance. Red symbolises masculine power and wealth while white symbolises purity and beauty. The traditional wedding attire of the bride and groom are decorated with fancy embroidery. In olden times, the Russian bride wore a thick shawl which completely obscured her face. Covering the bride in this fashion protected her from mischievous spirits and misfortune.

Let us know in the comments below which of these wedding outfits you loved the most!